An Introduction to Policy Debate Textbook

Christian student's purpose in learning the
art of debate should always be to develop life skills that will
help him or her glorify God and love others, whether by defending
God's truth, standing up for the needy, or persuading lost people
to come to the Savior. -
Preface

Previously titled An Introduction to Argumentation
and Debate, AN INTRODUCTION TO POLICY DEBATE was revised,
significantly updated, and renamed when the fifth edition was
released in 2010. The fifth edition was republished with a new
cover in 2012.

This accessible textbook opens the
door to the exciting world of debate. Written for beginning
debaters, it first answers the question What is formal debate?, then
unfolds each subsequent step from researching the resolution,
constructing the affirmative case, and preparing negative
strategies to using evidence and practicing speech and delivery.
The final chapters cover what to expect in a live debate, how to
identify and understand various judging philosophies, and how to
win and lose graciously.

New
material in the fifth edition includes:

An updated
sample case and evidence

Discussion
questions and exercises at the end of each chapter to assist
instructors and debaters alike

Scripture
references and biblical principles to help the novice debater
cultivate the godly understanding and use of debate
skills

An
emphasis on learning debate as a life skill rather than a
game

Correction
of errors in previous editions

About the author:

At the
urging of her father, Christy Shipe first became involved in debate
at Cedarville University in 1995. She competed on the Cedarville
debate team for three years and won the Outstanding Graduate Award
in 1998 from the National Educational Debate Association. She
graduated from Cedarville summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree
in political science and received the Edmund Burke Award for
excellence in the field of social science. While still a student at
Cedarville, she helped Home School Legal Defense Association launch
a homeschool debate program and served as its director for four
years, until the birth of her second child. That program grew into
the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association,
where she served on the board of directors until
2008.